Doodlebug Rigs for the Surf

If you’re a dedicated surf angler you undoubtedly have doodlebug rigs in your tacklebox. If you don’t and you plan to try casting from the beach, you need to get a bunch of these things post-haste.

Doodlebugs are simply rigs with relatively short leaders and a float at the hooks. Some are single-hook rigs, and others have a pair like a top-and-bottom rig. Those floats give the bait some action, and help keep it suspended out of reach (mostly) of the bait-stealing crabs. They come in all different sizes, and choosing the right size for the fish you plan to target (setting aside non-rig factors, like bait choice), is the most critical difference between success and failure. How do you choose? Hook size is what you should be looking at. When small panfish are in the plan little doodlebugs with #4 or #6 hooks will be about right, for big reds look for rigs with hooks more like 8/0, and so on. Use hook size to determine which rig you grab off the tackle shop wall above all other variables.

What about float color? You’ll see these rigs with red floats, lime green floats, blaze orange, and more. Ask about this at the local watering hole and I’m sure you’ll hear any number of opinions. Surprising as it may sound, however, personally I’ve never, ever been able to see a difference in the results revolving around float color.

Bait choice, of course, does have an impact on the results. And you can slap just about any offering onto a doodlebug. The one thing to keep in mind is that since we are talking about fishing in the surf, it’s important to use something on the rugged side. Beyond that, choose according to the target species’ preference.

Doodlebug rigs aren’t the only choice for fishing in the surf, but they are certainly a strong one. Plus, they’re almost never the “wrong” choice. Before you hit the beach, make sure there’s a wide selection of them in that tacklebox.